TE ROOPU TAURIMA O MANUKAU TRUST APPOINTS CEO
The charitable trust Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust has today confirmed the appointment of Tania Thomas to the role of
CEO, effective 19 January 2015. Ms Thomas is of Ngati Kahu ancestry and has extensive leadership experience in the
disability sector, most recently serving as the director of the Families Commission’s Centre for Family and Whanau
Knowledge and earlier spending 12 years in the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner, first in the role of
director of advocacy and then as deputy health and disability commissioner – disability.
As CEO of Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust, Ms Thomas will be responsible for leading the growth and development of the
trust, which has approximately 500 staff and provides disability support services to approximately 250 mokopuna.
Ms Thomas says of her appointment, “I am pleased to have the opportunity to lead the trust and support others to achieve
their potential. My work with Te Roopu Taurima will allow me to develop our staff and supporters to achieve a collective
vision for mokopuna and whanau, and I look forward to all we will do together.”
Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust board chairperson Brian O’Shea says, “We are delighted to welcome Tania as CEO of the
trust. She is an established leader in the disability sector with a stellar reputation and a record of action and
achievement. As well as her sector background Tania has considerable experience in corporate and health care governance,
which will stand the trust in good stead as we continue the process of structuring for optimal growth and service.
“Under Ms Thomas’ leadership the trust will remain focused on providing a consistent high level of care and support for
mokopuna and their whanau and ensuring a work/life balance for all staff.”
Ms Thomas is currently secretary/treasurer of Te-Rununga-a-Iwi-o Ngati Kahu, Mangataiore Marae trustee under Te Ture
Whenua Act, and marae delegate to the Rununga-a-Iwi-o Ngati Kahu. She is a director of Ngati Kahu Mortgage Services and
Ngati Kahu Corporate Ltd.
Ms Thomas’ appointment follows the October 2014 announcement of four new board members of the trust: Mahaki Albert, Grey
Keay, Moana Sinclair and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait.
Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust is a charitable trust providing disability support services to approximately 250
mokopuna. It has approximately 500 staff and its head office is based in Auckland.
ends